Ever wondered what it takes to explore the ocean’s darkest depths? A research team at Harbin Engineering University on the Chinese mainland just unveiled a fish-inspired plasticized electrohydraulic robot that can brave pressures at 10,000 meters under the sea! 🐟🤖
This sleek bot mimics a fish’s swimming motion, using fluid-driven actuators powered by an electric control unit. In simple terms, it blends water’s force with smart electronics to flex and glide without breaking under intense pressure—over 1,000 times what we feel at the surface.
Why it matters? Deep-sea missions uncover new marine life, map underwater terrain, and track the impacts of climate change on ocean ecosystems. Traditional metal submersibles can be rigid and vulnerable at extreme depths, but this soft, flexible design bends with the pressure, making it a game changer for ocean exploration.
In lab tests, the fish-bot aced a pressure chamber simulation at 10,000m depth. Its plasticized body and hydraulic joints proved strong enough to handle epic loads, paving the way for future dives in the Indian Ocean trenches, the South China Sea, and beyond.
What’s next? Picture collaborations with regional marine institutes to map uncharted seafloors or monitor endangered species in real time. The ocean’s mysteries just got a high-tech ally. Stay tuned for more deep dives! 🌊✨
Reference(s):
China develops robot able to withstand 10,000-meter deep-sea pressure
cgtn.com
